Paper towel



Augo 4, 1936.

c. P. WINTER PAPER TOWEL Filed Dec. 4, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 4, 1936. c p WlNTER ZOSQQBO PAPER TOWEL Filed Dec. 4, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 C F WM/er,

Patented Aug. 4, 1936 PAPER TOWEL Courtney P. Winter, Chambersburg,.1.a., assignor to United States Paper Mills, Inc., Chambersburg, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 4, 1935, Serial No. 52,881

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in paper towel packages and to a method of folding and assembling the sheets to form such a package.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a paper towel package in which the raw edges of the sheets are concealed, so that there are no raw edges at the ends of the package.

Another object is to furnish a package of paper towels in which the central portion of each towel is of three thicknesses or three plies, the towels being so folded and interlocked as to conceal the raw edges of the towels.

A further object is to provide a novel method of folding, cutting and assembling paper to form a new type paper towel package.

With the foregoing objects outlined and with other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

Referring to the drawings.

Fig. l is a diagrammatic illustration of a couple of folded webs of paper, and illustrating the manner of alternately severing the same to: facilitate interlocking of the towels to one another.

Fig. 2 is an end view of a portion of a package of towels in which the leaves are folded and interlocked in one way.

Fig. 3 is a similar view in which the leaves are folded and interlocked in a different way.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view corresponding to Fig. 2, of a package in which the towels are folded in accordance with the first method.

Fig. 5 is a simila" view corresponding to Fig. 3, in which the towels are folded and interlocked by the alternative method.

In accordance with the present invention, webs 6 and i of crepe paper or the like are folded along parallel lines 8 and 9 to bring the side portions i8 and H into overlapping relation on the central or body portion !2 of the web. That is, the side edge portions of each web that is fed into the folding machine, are turned inward so as to overlap. The degree of overlapping should be as broad as possible, up to complete covering of one edge portion by the other, so that the towels cut from the sheet will have three thicknesses at least at the central portion of the towel. In a case of moderate overlapping, as i1- lustrated in the drawings, the central portion of the folded web will have three thicknesses or plies, and the side portions will have two thicknesses. This construction simplifies the manufacture, as there are no close limits required on the feeding of the paper into the machine, as slight variations from side to side of the parent 5 roll would only tend to shift the position of the three-ply central portion, while the folded edges that bound the web on the sides will always remain in predetermined positions. As before stated, the partial overlapping provides extra 10 thickness in the center of the individual towel, with the use of a minimum amount of paper, as it is the central portion of the towel that stands the greatest usage. Obviously, there is considerable economy in producing the towels in this manner. In some cases, where economy is not an element, the complete or nearly complete overlapping of the sheets may be used so that the three plies will be co-extensive in size. In practice, however, I prefer the partial over lapping.

Assuming the use of folded webs of the kind illustrated in Fig. 1, such webs may be severed, and the individual towels thus obtained may be assembled in various ways in accordance with the present invention. For example, in one method, a pair of webs may be fed one above the other in horizontal planes, and then the upper web may be severed on transverse lines i l to form individual towels IS. The other web I can be severed on lines l4 arranged midway between the lines !4 of the upper web, whereby the individual towels of the two webs will be placed in such relation that when each towel is folded along a transverse line l5, midway between its ends, as shown in Fig. 2, the towels will be interlocked to form one type of package. This is well illustrated in Fig. 4, in which the severed ends it of one of the towels I! from the web I are concealed by the folded portions iii of the towel 13 from the web 6.

In accordance with the last mentioned method of folding, each towel has two leaves, but the towels may be folded so as to provide two or more leaves. For example, as illustrated in Figs.

, 3 and 5, a folded web of the kind illustrated in Fig. 1 is severed to provide individual towels, and each of these towels is folded transversely on parallel lines l8 and. 19 to provide a top leaf 20, an intermediate leaf 2| and a bottom leaf 22, and the top and bottom leaves are interlocked with the top and bottom leaves of similar towels to provide a package as will be clear from Figs. 3 and 5.

In making the second type of package, the

towels are prepared from a single pre-folded web in which the trailing edge of one towel, cut from the web, is interfolded with the leading edge of the following towel cut from the same Web, and so on. This type is characterized by an even number of transverse lines of fold. In the present instance, the simplest form is used, consisting of two transverse folds.

Regardless of which way the towels are folded, in accordance with the present invention, the raw edges are concealed, either within the body or the folded edge portions of the package.

While I have disclosed what I now consider to be a preferred embodiment of my invention in such manner that it may be readily understood by those skilled in the art, I am aware that changes may be made in the details disclosed, without departing from the spirit of the invention, as expressed in the claim.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A package comprising a stack of towels, each towel formed of a single sheet of paper folded so as to superpose opposite side flaps in mutually overlapping relation upon the central panel of the sheet, whereby the central portion of each towel is constituted of three plies of paper, each flap being of less width than the central panel of the towel, the towels being also folded transversely relatively to the first fold lines so as to provide each towel with a plurality of leaves, the end leaves of each towel with the exception of the top and bottom towel of the stack being interlocked with the leaves of adjacent towels so as to bring the three plies of each end leaf of one towel between the three plies of leaves of an adjacent towel whereby the raw ends of each towel with the exception of the top and bottom towel of the stack are concealed by leaves of adjacent towels.

COURTNEY P. WINTER. 

